The researchers measured CAP and peripheral arterial blood pressure (PAP) after resting periods of ≥10 minutes each. For patients with Parkinson's disease, measurements were recorded 1 hour before and 1 hour after levodopa intake.

Before levodopa intake, CAP and PAP levels were higher in patients with Parkinson's disease compared with the control group but were not statistically significant:

Mean CAP before levodopa: 150 mm Hg in patients with Parkinson's vs 137 mm Hg in the control group

Mean PAP before levodopa: 153/89 mm Hg in patients with Parkinson's vs 141/83 mm Hg in the control group

After levodopa intake, CAP and PAP levels were significantly decreased in patients with Parkinson's disease:

Mean CAP after levodopa: 130 mm Hg (P <.05)

Mean PAP after levodopa: 138/78 mm Hg (P <.04)

“Levodopa decreased both PAP and CAP, leading to a lower CAP than PAP, which is crucial for the heart health,” the researchers wrote. “This suggests that levodopa might have a positive effect on the heart in PD patients,” they concluded.

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